Chapter 13 - Volume 01; Side Story 01: Part 02 (2/2)

“Don’t hesitate to tell me if there’s anything you want, Elli.”

… Your Highness, I’m worried about the future of this kingdom if you like splurging.

But, I was confused about whether I should be candid when I saw Sir Glenn and the knights carrying heavy books. However, there are some books I haven’t purchased yet.

“――― Theories on the Plammer ruins?”

“Yes. Prince Theodore was looking for it.”

“Elli,” he suddenly called my name in a low voice, and I was surprised. His Highness took the book from my hands, and his eyes weren’t smiling.

“Uncle has time and money. He can always come here and buy it himself.”

“Eh, but…”

I’ve already found it. I thought, and His Highness put his index finger over my lips.

“You’re prohibited from saying the names of other men today.”

It’s a day with a lot of random prohibited things.

I blinked in confusion and His Highness laughed at me, and his eyes looked at me invitingly.

“I’ll punish you if you say another man’s name.”

“You…!”

Mm? His blue eyes flashed and sharpened. My eyes were swimming as I gulped.

“Th-there’s a snail.” I pointed off into the distance to cover what I was about to say, and I suddenly heard a laugh from the side.

I looked that way in surprise, and saw a young man dressed like a Roma dancer, trying to hold back his laughter. At once, His Highness’s mood dropped, and he said, “Why are you here?”

“No, well, I can’t miss such an interesting show, now could I?”

His Highness’s smile was somewhat ghastly and scary. He said one word, “Return.”

The Roma youth looked boyish and had honey-brown hair, which was rare for Roma people. I tilted my head.

“Do you know him? You… Prince Chris.”

His Highness looked at me, blinked a little and smiled.

“No, not at all. He’s a stranger. There are a lot of different people in this kind of market. You have to be vigilant if a stranger speaks to you, Elli.”

“… I’m not a child,” I stated my dissatisfaction. His Highness replied with a smile. “I’m worried because Elli’s cute,” he said.

… What should I say? Should I say that he doesn’t have enough restraints on him since the other day whenever he interacts with me? Or should I say that the binding on his restraints has been released…? I guess it was also one of the reasons why I become red.

A sweet aura filled the air again, and the young man, who had been excluded to the side, rushed in and interrupted the mood.

“Isn’t that horrible? I finally got some interesting information, so I went to look for you two.”

“You’ve never brought any interesting information before. Whatever, go back. I’m on holiday (of my own free will) today,” His Highness cruelly declared, and he pulled my hand to leave. “Eh,” the young man spoke as he remained cheerful with an innocent teasing tone.

“Even if it’s about Miss Elianna?”

Even I knew that His Highness’s attitude had changed entirely.

His Highness turned around and opened his mouth, then a sudden riot occurred at the same time as the nearby people started pushing and shoving each other.

The angry yells of adults, accompanied by screams and the sounds of people scattering.

I looked towards the noise in surprise and saw several children running from the commotion. But, when I saw this, I was surrounded by Sir Glenn and the guards, and His Highness was standing in front of me to protect me.

“――― They’re thieves! Catch them!”

The children slipped between the noisy crowds of people as if they were fish swimming in the water. However, the smallest child fell under the weight of the books he was holding, and several books scattered from his hands.

In front of the stunned me, “Rene!” a big child came back. The child tried to help the fallen child get up, and they were caught by the adults who were chasing after them.

Then, the young man from before spoke to His Highness, “Prince Chris. You’d better protect those children.”

His Highness looked at the man suspiciously, but he put off his questions and left me to Sir Glenn before stepping forward.

The men who had surrounded the children looked like violent bodyguards. Are there also Roma people who make a living from fighting? I could understand the demand since quarrels probably happened in a market like this.

“Shameless brats. How can you steal from Roma people when you’re Roma yourself?”

“Seriously. What happened to your parents? It’s not like you’ll get anything from stealing books.”

“Were you going to take them to the bookstores in the royal capital? If a kid like you brings books in, then you’ll be driven away.”

His Highness forced his way through and timed his appearance, and a boy who looked around ten, raised his face after he was pushed roughly.

The child’s words completely changed the mood, “You’re wrong! The noble ordered us to do it. He said go steal the books! There’s no need to pay Romas, he said. ――― He’s a noble named Bernstein!”

Excuse me…?

I can see the mood around me had changed as I blinked my eyes. The violent men were seething with anger.

“Bernstein, you say…?”

“Did he finally show up this year? I still owe him for that time!”

“Me too! I’ll beat him next time!”

“The head said to bring him no matter what the next time he shows up.”

I continued to blink as the violent men continued to speak.

Are my family, perhaps, connected to the Roma people? Was that why father insisted that I not come here?

However, my family has nothing to do with violent because we love books… to be clear, there’s no need to see the results if we get into a brawl. I don’t think we have many chances to interact with people who fight for a living…

And, I’m surprised to see that these people hold such a grudge against us that they were burning for revenge. Next to me, Sir Glenn spoke to the young man, “What’s the meaning of this? Did you want to stop this because you knew this would happen?”

“No… I’m surprised because I hadn’t expected them to react like this. The Bernsteins are popular with the Roma people, aren’t they?”

In a sense, this was popular? Their reactions certainly seemed like they were overreacting to the Bernstein name instead of resenting nobles for looking down on them.

“Hey… Brats. Where is the noble who ordered you to do this?”

The two children shrugged at the men who were approaching them. To be precise, the older of the two was protecting the smaller one. Are they siblings? I can’t see them clearly, but they don’t look alike.

“――― Can I interrupt?” His Highness quietly forced his way through. Everyone’s gazes focused on him as if they were intended to reveal his hidden presence.

His Highness didn’t seem agitated by their gazes and took his time to smile. He spoke calmly and interrupted from an unexpected place.

When the child, who looked to be around six or seven, raised his face, his vivid blue eyes shone, and he flew at His Highness.

“――― Dad!” He yelled.